NMEDA: Another “Very Successful” Mobility Awareness Month

National Mobility Awareness Month, which has been the month of May for the last four years, has just wrapped up, and the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) is again celebrating the program’s success.

The month gives adaptive automotive dealers and clinicians specializing in driver rehabilitation the chance to focus on publicizing their services and the technology currently available to help both drivers and passengers take to the roads more comfortably, safely and efficiently.

NMEDA has encouraged mobility dealers to hold open houses and other community events in May to educate consumers and caregivers.

But the centerpiece of the month is the public contest that gives away customized accessible vehicles.

“We have just concluded the fourth very successful National Mobility Awareness Month Local Heroes Contest,” Dave Hubbard, executive director/CEO of NMEDA, told Mobility Management. “The contest finished on May 31, and the semi-finalists in line to win a wheelchair-accessible vehicle are now in the hands for the judges. The semi-finalists stories will be judged on their merits for being inspirational to others and what the local heroes have done to give back to the communities despite living with a disability.”

Hubbard said winners will be announced June 30 on the Daytime syndicated television program.

Despite a shorter overall timeline for 2015, Hubbard said the contest still had more than 900 entrants and collected nearly 1.4 million votes. More than 1.5 million visitors viewed the Web site, and they generated more than 7.7 million page views.

“NMEDA is very proud to be able to offer this event,” Hubbard said, “and very thankful to the sponsors who make it possible, including Chrysler, Honda and Toyota, along with BraunAbility, Vantage Mobility International and Eldorado National providing the vehicles and adaptive equipment and conversions.”

About the Author

Laurie Watanabe is the editor of Mobility Management. She can be reached at lwatanabe@1105media.com.